N1 Degree and Emphasis

~の極きわみ: meaning, usage and examples

~の極きわみ means: the height of... / the ultimate...

Updated 9 November 2026 · By the My Senpai team · Spotted a mistake? Tell us

Examples

1. 高級こうきゅうホテルのスイートルームで週末しゅうまつを過すごすなんて、贅沢ぜいたくの極きわみだ。

   Spending the weekend in a luxury hotel suite is the height of luxury.

2. 大事だいじな場面ばめんで失敗しっぱいするとは、痛恨つうこんの極きわみだ。

   Failing at such a crucial moment is deeply regrettable.

3. 優勝ゆうしょうが決きまった瞬間しゅんかんは、まさに感激かんげきの極きわみだった。

   The moment our win was decided was truly overwhelming.

4. 連日れんじつの残業ざんぎょうで、疲労ひろうの極きわみに達たっしている。

   After working late day after day, I am completely exhausted.

When to use it

Says something has reached its utmost point: the greatest luxury, the deepest regret, total exhaustion. It attaches to nouns of feeling or state. Example: 一流いちりゅうホテルで朝食ちょうしょくとは贅沢ぜいたくの極きわみだ (Breakfast at a top hotel is the height of luxury). Common in speeches, news and essays, and in apologies such as 痛恨つうこんの極きわみです.

Nuance

Formal and written, used in speeches and the media. It can be positive (感激かんげきの極きわみ) or negative (痛恨つうこんの極きわみ, 疲労ひろうの極きわみ). It often appears as ～の極きわみだ or ～の極きわみに達たっする, and is rarely used in casual conversation.

Compare

～の至いたり is narrower and mostly for humble feelings in ceremonies: 光栄こうえいの至いたり. ～極きわまりない follows な-adjectives and criticizes: 不便ふべん極きわまりない. ～の極きわみ follows nouns and can either praise or lament: 美びの極きわみ (the height of beauty), 疲労ひろうの極きわみ (utter exhaustion).

Tip: Ask: is the word before it a noun? Use の極きわみ. A な-adjective of criticism? Use 極きわまりない.